M's notebook: With Lopez called up, Boone due for a break

Bret Boone may have lost his wallet this week, but he hasn't lost his job.

Even with Jose Lopez up from Class AAA Tacoma and poised to play a lot at second base, Boone doesn't see his place in the Mariners' lineup and at his position in any long-term jeopardy.

"It could be a little hiatus for me," said Boone, who hasn't been able to solve his batting woes this year. "But let's see what happens."

The Mariners yesterday sent Greg Dobbs down to Tacoma and promoted Lopez, although he has played sparingly because of two injuries to his left hand. The idea is to use him at second for a stretch, giving Boone a break to work with hitting coach Don Baylor.

The immediate suspicion is that with Mike Morse making a quick splash at shortstop, Lopez's arrival makes Boone's future at second uncertain.

"The only thing certain is the lineup on the wall tonight," general manager Bill Bavasi said. "How this is played is up to Mike [Hargrove, manager]. He's a veteran and he's not afraid to use his options, and Lopez gives him some options."

Hargrove met with Boone yesterday, before Lopez came into the clubhouse. Lopez immediately went into the lineup — at third base in place of Adrian Beltre — not even getting a day to become acclimated, which Hargrove prefers to give callups.

"When I talked with Boonie, he wasn't jumping up and down for joy," the manager said. "He wasn't angry. He understands what we're trying to do. As to this being a changing of the guard, I'd call that way premature."

Boone acknowledged that he was not happy to hear the news he is expected to sit soon.

"But then I haven't been happy with the way I've been swinging the bat," he said. "No one could be happy with that. "This is a plan, yes, but let's not call this a firm plan yet. You never know."

Boone is hitting .227 and has four runs batted in in 13 games this month.

"Lopez gives us an option until we find a way to get Bret Boone back where he should be," Hargrove said. "We don't have the luxury of sending Bret down. So we'll see. If it's needed, we can give him four, five, six days off in a row."

The plan itself is an indication of how much work the Mariners think Boone needs. "There's only so much you can do every day and still be physically ready to play that night," Hargrove said.

Bavasi said that while Lopez is up for a while, "there's no mandate to play him every day. There's no mandates at all, to use kids or to use vets. Lopez is another guy who can give us some offense."

The Mariners' 270 runs are last in the league and their .254 average is 12th among 14 teams.

"There are two parts to this move," Bavasi said. "One, that we have enough confidence in these kids to give them an opportunity; two, we're not satisfied with the offense."

He acknowledged that while Lopez may not be an everyday player, "he won't sit for long, no. There's a possibility he'll play most of the time he's here at second, [and] a possibility he'll go down in a couple of days."

Lopez's stint last night at third was merely a stopgap. With left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii starting for the Mets, Seattle's only replacements for Beltre were lefty hitters Dave Hansen, who started each game of the Philadelphia series, and Dobbs, who was hitting .176.

"Because he's been playing there all year, second is probably where he's most comfortable, but Lopez can play third in his sleep," Bavasi said. "If you've seen him play at all, you know he can play third.

"We forced the issue with him at second, and he's done well there."

Lopez, 21, just wants to play.

"Third base? No problem," he said. "They told me I'll play five or six games here. But I'm ready. Let's go."

Lopez may play again today, or he may get the day off since ace Pedro Martinez is starting for the Mets. But there is little doubt — despite Boone's intention to start hitting — that Lopez will be at second base tomorrow, because that is when Beltre is expected back.

Note

• Mets right fielder Mike Cameron, out since Sunday with a right quadriceps injury, does not expect to play in this series. But the former Mariner is making the best of it.

"At least I'm still here to enjoy this beautiful city of Seattle," he said. "I got to get out and see the fans somehow, get that good feeling."

Mets manager Willie Randolph found a way — Cameron took out the lineup card, and the fans gave the lineup exchange a rare ovation.

• USC catcher Jeff Clement, the Mariners' No. 1 draft pick, has been named to the Baseball America first team.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.